Mom's computer desk

So mom wanted a new desk and I told her “save your money, let me build you one”. The desk is birch plywood, poplar, cedar on the legs and border on the tops, and mdf laminated with oak ply for the top. I made a taper jig for the tablesaw to cut the legs. I used my porter cable dovetail jig for the drawers. The plywood sides are dadoed into the legs and the stretchers are pocket screwed into the legs. The keyboard drawer has a flip down front and uses butler hinges. The smaller cabinet is for the printer and has three drawers. The two bottom drawers on the desk and printer cabinet are file drawers with round stock on the top edges which will hold folders. The finish is dark cherry water base stain and arm-r-seal semi-gloss.

This was my first real project and I am really happy how it turned out. My mom loves it too.

If I were to do it again I would not have used cedar, it is too soft and dents very easily. I learned a lot from this project. I probably would not use the water based stain either. I did a lot of research and everyone said to conditioin the poplar first but I didn’t like how it looked witht the conditioner so I never used it. I think the finish turned out nice.

DAve – this is drop dead gorgious! And your first project of this kind – my oh my, I’d say you did Jim Dandy for your first. I can only imagine what you’ll be building for the kids, bunk bed, sky forts, night stands, toy boxes… It’s beautiful.